Humidor



May '1 R. S. BLAIR HUMIDOR Filed May 9, 1919 Patentecl May 10, 1927.

UNITED ST'ATES ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF SOUND BEACH, CONNECTICUT.

HUMIDQR.

Application file May a, 1919. serial No. 295,875.

This invention relates to humidors and the like. One of the objects thereof is to provide a simple and compact device of the above nature which shall maintain tobacco in a properly moist condition. e

Another object is to provide a practical device of the above nature which shall b'e adapted to remain in action for a considerable time without attention. Other objects are to provide. means whereby the condition of the air within a humidoror the like is readily ascertained i and simple means for remedying an excess or deficienc-y of. moisture therein. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereiuafter. i

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of -elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention, i

Figure 1 is a central transverse sectional elevation through Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a similar view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a. detail persp'ectiveview of a device removably mounted within a humidor. w V

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings indetail there is shown at 5 the body of a' receptacle for cigars or other form of tobacco, provided with the lid 6 hinged at 7. Mounted upon the inner surface of this lid or cover is a device 8 which may be formed of sheet metal as by stamping. This member comprises a cylindrical portion 9 flanged as at 10 so as partially to enclose its ends, and provided with a cut-away portion 11 on its upper forward side,v that is, the side away from the'hinge 7. The edge of the cylinder 9 at the upper side. of its opening is downwardly Vflanged as at 12, and this flange is carried outwardly along the edges of a forwardly extending arm 13, as shown at This arm is bent downwardly to vform the shoulder 15 and thence upwardly to rest flat against the underside of the lid of the box, as at 16; the device being held in position as by means of a screw 17.

In this manner there is provided an inner Chamber which may contain a small amount v of liquid in substantially any desired posi- ,of humidity for the contents of the container 5, and the evaporat-ing surface may be increased by extending the member 9 up as at 9a. In order to adjust the evaporation to suit the conditions of use, there is provided a sheet metal member 19 which extends 'throughout the length of the cylinder and lits its outer surface for a fraction of its circumference., This member is bent to embrace and hook over each end of the cylinder at the additional points 20 and 21 and can thus be rotated about the cylinder to close any desired portion of the opening 11.

Opposite the extreme outer end of the arm 13 there is provided in the llid 6l an opening 22 which is closed as' by means of the glass 23. .The endof arm 13 is shaped to provide an amiular flange 2% recessed as at 25 to retain an indicating element 26. The latter element maybe formed of absorbent paper which has been soa-ked in a suitable chemical solution of such nature that is color will vary with themoisture to which it is eXposed. For example, such a solution may comprise Parts. Cobalt chloride 1 Gelatine 10 VVater 100 Openings are provided at 27 to permit air from the interior of the container to pass to the upper side of member 26.

Inthe use of the device a suitable quantity of water or other liquid is inserted within the cylinder 9, such amount being used as would preferably leave a. portion of the free liquid at the bottom of the cylinder after the pad 18 has become saturated. Theshutter 19 is then adjusted so asfto expose the desired amount of evaporating surface. rIhe member 26 will immediately indicate the humidity of the interior of the receptacle and it is so positioncd that it will not only give a. fair indication but is out of danger of contact with the moistening element. If the color of the indicator shows that the humidity is Vtoo great, the shutter is closed to a slightly great-er extent, whereas upon Vthe color indicating an unduly dry state, this shutter is proportionately opened. In this manner the hnmidity is readily maintained at precisely the desired degree. The state of humidity in the container, moreoverfis readily ascertained without the necessitj7 of opening the latter and it is to be especially notcd 'that the mounting` of the ind'icator insurcs a registry or indication of the contents of the air Within the container without the chance of false indications. such as might be due to contact with moist surfaces.

It will thus bo scen that there is provided a construction in which the several objects of this invention are achiever.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to bc understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompa'nying drawings to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim .my invention:

1. In 'ap'paratus of the vgeneral nature of 'that herein described, in combination a container, and a member adapted to char-.ge color on changes `in its dampness, mounted in 'such container and having one surface thereof exposed to the interior of said container, said container being formed to expose said member to view from the outside of said container.

2. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a con- 'tainer, a flat member adapted to change color on changes in its dampness, and means mounting said member parallel to and adjacent an upper wall of said container with one of its surfaces exposed to the interior thereof, said container .being formed to e):- pose said member to view from the outside.

3. In apparatus of the Vgeneral nature of that herein described, in combination, container, -a flat member adapted to change color on changes in its dampness, and means mounting said member parallel to and adjacent a Wall of said container with one of its surfaces exposed to the interior thereof, said container being formed to expose said member to view :from the outside, and said member'being held out. of contact with the walls and contents of said .containein 4. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a flat Lea/,888

member adapted to change color on changes in its dampness, a transparent opening in an upper wall of said container, and means mounting said memberopposite said openving and substantially parallel to said wall with one surface exposed to said opening and the opposite surface exposed to the interior of said container.

5. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, acontainer, a member exposed to the air Within said containcr vand constituted to change its color with changes in the dampness of said air, means adapted to moisten the air within said con-tainer, and means by which -said moistening means may be rendered'operative upon said member indicating a deficiency in such moisture said moistening means being spaced from said member.

6. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a centainer, means adapted to indicate vthe dampness of the air within said container, means adapted to moisten said air, `and means adapted to vary the rate of action of said moistening means to maintain the indication of said first means substantially constant, said moistening means being spaced from said first mentioned means.

7. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a container having opaque walls, a window formed in one of the walls of said contaner, and a member constituted to change its color in accordance with variations in its dampness and positioned to be /exposed to the air within said cont-ainer and visible through said window.

8. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a por-table container having an opening in one of its walls, a member constituted to change its color in accordance with variations in its dampness, and means mounting said memher within said container opposite said openmg.

9. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a 'contaner, and a member adapted to change color on changes in its dampness mounted in such container and having one surface thereof eXposed to the intcrior of said container. said container being' formed to expose said member to view from the outside of said container and said member being adjacent to and Vsubstantially following as a whole the direction of the portion of the container through which it is visible.

10. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a container, a member adapted to change color on changes in its dampness, means comprising a part having openings to permit the air of the interior of vthe container to pass therethrough and mounting in such container said first member with one surface exposed to the nterior of said container, said container being formed to expose said member to view from theE outside of said container.

11. In apparatus of the general nature ofl that herein described, in combination, a container, a member adapted to change color on changes in its dampness, means mounting said member in said container in a position adjacent to and substantially following as a whole the direclion of the portion of the container which it is opposite and With one surface of the member exposed to the interior of the container, said container being formed to expose said member` to View from the outside thereof, and moisteningl ROBERT S. BLAIR 

